Items of interest to the towing and recovery industry that are gleaned from the Web by Towing & Recovery Footnotes (www.trfootnotes.com) Associate Editor Cyndi Kight

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Thursday, April 15, 2010

900 Miles for a Cure - Everyday Tow Hero In MA

For most tow truck drivers, racking up 900 miles is nothing – if it’s in a truck.

Kevin Roche of Norfolk, Mass., will be doing 900 miles on foot.

Starting in July, the 45-year-old Roche will participate in 15 walks in 15 cities across the country as part of the national Susan G. Komen 3-Day For A Cure fundraiser.

Each Susan G. Komen 3-Day is a 60-mile walk spread out over a course of three days. Proceeds from the events go to breast cancer research and community programs.

The first walk kicks off in Boston on July 23. The next weekend, Roche will head to Cleveland, Ohio. Then Chicago. Then Michigan and on…

His last walk will be in San Diego, Calif., on the weekend of Nov. 19-21.

Roche, who owns Norfolk Auto with his father, Paul, has been in the towing, auto repair and junkyard business for 33 years.

“I started here when I was 12,” he said.

While he is away walking, Roche said his dad will cover for him at the shop.

“He’s going to have to pick up the slack when I’m gone,” Roche said with a laugh.

The Roches’ company is comprised of a five-bay garage and four tow trucks – one of which is now wrapped in pink and white in honor of Roche’s cause.

If someone calls and requests the pink truck for a tow, Roche will donate ten percent of the price of the tow to the Susan G. Komen organization.

Additionally, to take part in each walk, Roche must raise $2,300 – 15 times. That’s a total of $34,500.

He’s asking for help from his family, friends and the towing community, especially sponsorships from towing associations nationwide.

Since he’ll be without his own tow truck when he flies in to each city, Roche is also hoping that local tower will pick him up at the airport.

According to Roche, there is only one other person who is currently signed up to participate in all 15 walks.

Surprisingly (and thankfully), no one close to Roche has had breast cancer.

So, why does he do it?

“I think it’s a very worthy cause,” Roche said matter-of-factly.

He did his first walk in Boston in 2008. “In 2010, I decided to do all 15,” Roche said, adding, “I guess I go to extremes.”

Want to help?• Keep up with Kevin on Facebook. He’s under “900 Miles For A Cure.” You can also access his page through Footnotes’ Facebook fan page.

• Donate at his website www.keviniswalking.org. Sponsorships by towing associations would be especially appreciated!

• If you’re in Woonsocket, Mass., on May 6, attend a benefit concert. Ernie and the Automatics and Fatty Mac will be playing at the Stadium Theatre at 8 p.m. Tickets are available at the Stadium Theatre box office and at Norfolk Auto, 38 Main Street, Norfolk, Mass.

• Meet Kevin at the airport and give him a ride in your tow truck! Give him a call if you live in Cleveland, Chicago, Southeastern Michigan/Detroit, Twin Cities, Denver, Seattle, San Francisco Bay Area, Washington, D.C., Philadelphia, Atlanta, Tampa Bay, Dallas/Ft. Worth, Arizona or San Diego. He can be reached at 508-528-0296.